Greenlight Guru alternative

Built for medical devices. Reckoned with by everyone else.

Greenlight Guru is the best modern QMS for medical device manufacturers under FDA Class II/III inspection. The product is well-designed, the workflows are tight, and the team understands regulated environments. The problem for everyone else: you're paying for Part 11 strict-mode e-signatures, design-control workflows, and 21 CFR 820 modules you don't need — and you're using Greenlight Guru because no one shipped a modern QMS for ISO 9001 shops. We did.

Where Greenlight Guru wins

Purpose-built for medical device design control.

Greenlight Guru's deep value is in design control — DHF (Design History File), DMR (Device Master Record), risk management per ISO 14971, design verification + validation, and Part 11 strict-mode e-signatures throughout. For medical device companies, this is the right model. Their team genuinely understands FDA inspections.

  • DHF / DMR / DHR per ISO 13485 baked into the workflows
  • Risk management per ISO 14971 with full traceability
  • Design control (V&V, design transfer) as a first-class workflow
  • Part 11 strict-mode e-signatures
  • Strong FDA inspection prep + post-market surveillance support
Where Greenlight Guru loses for non-medical SMBs

You're paying for modules you can't use.

If you're a job shop, an automotive Tier 2, an aerospace sub-tier, or a contract manufacturer pursuing ISO 9001 / AS9100 / IATF 16949 — Greenlight Guru is the wrong fit. The pricing reflects medical device risk + Part 11 compliance burden, which you don't carry. The design control workflows assume you're developing the product (most SMB manufacturers build to customer drawings). You end up with a $30k-$60k QMS that solves problems you don't have.

  • Pricing: $30k-$60k/yr typical, calibrated for medical device risk
  • Design control assumes you design the product (most SMBs don't)
  • Part 11 strict-mode overhead you don't need for ISO 9001
  • Detached from production data — same NC-reconciliation problem
  • Onboarding curated for medical device buyer, not job-shop manager
Where Ignite Lean wins

ISO 9001 / AS9100 / IATF 16949 audit-ready. Production-integrated. $49/seat.

Ignite Lean ships every audit answer the ISO 9001 / AS9100 / IATF 16949 auditor will ask for: CAPA with effectiveness check, internal audit program, supplier SCAR, calibration register, training matrix, management review pack, engineering change notice, risk register, document control via versioned WI flow. NCs join to build records (no manual reconciliation). E-signatures are SHA-256 hash-chained (ISO 9001 / AS9100 grade, not Part 11 strict mode — that's on the upgrade path if you ever need it).

  • Every ISO 9001 / AS9100 / IATF 16949 clause has a live answer
  • Built for SMB job-shops, automotive Tier 2, aerospace sub-tier
  • NCs tied to build records — no reconciliation tax
  • $49/seat — appropriate for ISO 9001 risk, not Class III medical
  • Hash-chain e-signatures (Part 11 strict mode is an upgrade path)
When Greenlight Guru is still the right call

Medical device. Full stop.

Pick Greenlight Guru if you manufacture FDA Class II or III medical devices. That's really the boundary. Their design control + Part 11 strict-mode pedigree is the best in the SMB-friendly QMS category for medical device. Don't pick them if you're an ISO 9001 job shop — you're buying a different product.

  • FDA Class II/III medical device manufacturing
  • You design the product (DHF / DMR are part of your workflow)
  • ISO 13485 + ISO 14971 are mandatory
  • Part 11 strict-mode e-signatures required by FDA inspection
The trade in one line

Medical device QMS vs. industrial-SMB QMS.

Greenlight Guru: best modern QMS for medical device companies. Ignite Lean: same audit-ready quality system, calibrated for the 95% of SMB manufacturers who aren't under FDA inspection. Different products for different audiences.

  • Greenlight Guru = medical device QMS, ISO 13485 + Part 11
  • Ignite Lean = industrial SMB QMS, ISO 9001 / AS9100 / IATF 16949
  • Half the cost. Same audit answer for non-medical shops
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